| More Happy Endings & Beginnings |
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| Rollie is an extremely special Beagle mix from Arkansas. Rollie has cerebella hypoplasia. In this condition, the cerebellum, which controls movement, is either damaged before or during birth. Rollie and his 4 realized that Rollie was not like the other puppies. He was unable to walk at first, but with their care, soon began walking and playing. They found homes for the other puppies and put out a nation-wide plea for Rollie. Through the sponsorship of a woman in Nebraska, Rollie was flown to Colorado. At The Poodle Preserve, Rollie played and frolicked with the other dogs. He especially loved retrieving. Rollie will always move with an exaggerated gait, but he quickly mastered hills and steps here. No one who is lucky enough to meet Rollie will ever forget him. He is the happiest, full-of-fun, friendliest dog you could ever meet. Rollie is truly an inspiration. He never let his "handicap" slow him down, and when he fell down, simply got back up again. Rollie now lives in a wonderful home in Colorado with a very special couple. |
| Bishop, emotionally healed & having a blast at The Poodle Preserve |
| A terrified, abused 10 month old Bishop back at the shelter |
| Bishop was a heartbreaker. He was originally adopted from the local shelter as a puppy (two photos on the left). At that time, Bishop was a serious, but friendly puppy. Unfortunately, the local shelter, like most shelters, does not have the resources or time to screen homes, and Bishop was living in a nightmare. He was dumped at the shelter 8 months later absolutely traumatised and terrified of people (next 2 photos). Bishop was not considered adoptable because he cowered under the bench in his kennel and growled at everyone who walked past. He would also bite out of fear anytime he was grabbed by the collar. Bishop came to The Poodle Preserve and within hours was a new dog. A shelter employee who brought fencing for me when Bishop arrived, commented that Bishop was "a different dog in dog paradise". Through patience and kindness, Bishop learned that he would never be beaten again. He now lives the good life with a special lady, Dawn, and her Standard Poodle in Indiana. |
| Klooney is a unique Pug-mix that spent 6 weeks at the local shelter. He appears to have been mistreated, and was not very trusting of people. Klooney grew more depressed daily as the weeks passed at the shelter. He was then released to The Poodle Preserve, and within 24 hours was the happy, playful dog seen in the photo on the right. Klooney quickly grew to trust and love attention. He now calls Salida, Colorado home. Klooney is cherished in the home of an older couple who had recently lost their dog to cancer. |
| Chiquita (or Banana-Banana as I always called her) was dumped at a Las Cruces, New Mexico shelter. She came to The Poodle Preserve with a group of dogs from Las Cruces that were considered unadoptable. As you can see in the first photo, Chiquita had a "Grandma Moses" look when she arrived (and I had already removed much of her hair before this photo!) Chiquita wasn't too thrilled with people when she arrived here (and who could blame her). However, after experiencing love, kindness, and caring (including a much-needed dental), Chiquita flew to her new home in Rhode Island. There she is the pampered joy of Joy's life. Happy Beginnings like this make it all worthwhile. |
| did not feel comfortable adopting him out. He was defensive with people and food-aggressive. The Poodle Preserve was asked to take Walter and a toothless, fiesty poodle named Buddy, who was already in Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), and therefore not adoptable. Walter learned manners at The Poodle Preserve, and now brightens the home of a doctor and his family in Denver. I love the unretouched photo on the right because Walter truly appears to be smiling. Buddy, the toothless poodle, still thrives here on a daily regimen of Lasix and aspirin for his CHF. |
| Flora was found emaciated and fearful. She was scheduled for euthanasia at the shelter because she was always passed by, and onlookers did not seem to appreciate her potential. Flora was brought to The Poodle Preserve and was soon thriving and frolicking with the other dogs. Flora found a new home in the Carbondale, Colorado area with the help of another rescue, ARF. Flora is loved and will never be hungry again. |
| Andy came from Ajo, Arizona. His first 3 guardians passed away, and none of the locals would adopt him as they considered him "bad luck". Andy came to The Poodle Preserve at 11 yrs of age, and spent four years here bringing anything but bad luck. Andy was sensitive and sweet. He had the most endearing his front paws. He had also been taught to twirl in a circle. Andy had obviously been very loved, and I am sure that none of his guardains would have expected him to end up unwanted and unloved at a shelter. It is always a good idea to make provisions for our animal companions in case anything happens to us. |
| It is ironic how many dogs named "Lucky" are unlucky enough to be dumped at shelters. This particular one was dumped at a shelter that uses the gas chamber. His crime? At 15 yrs old, he "snapped at one of the grandchildren when they touched his side". Lucky was tender to the touch for a reason: he was in the beginning of Congestive Heart Failure, and fluid was collecting in his abdomen. Lucky was lucky to be saved by Karen Chase. He came to The Poodle Preserve and spent the last year of his life chasing tennis balls (his obsession) and enjoying being spoiled and loved. Lucky was a gentleman in every way. To know him was to love him. I will always be grateful to Karen for seeing him as the special being that he was. I am richer for having known his gracious, generous spirit. |
| Faith came from the Albuquerque Animal Shelter with an advanced case of mammary tumors (another excellent reason to spay: dogs spayed before their first heat have a ZERO percent chance of developing mammary tumors). Faith was 13 yrs old and also completely blind. She was truly the bravest, most serene being that I have ever met. Words cannot describe her spirit. Faith, like all dogs, never spent time bemoaning her fate. She simply lived in the moment and made the most of the 18 months she had left. Dogs have so much to teach us, if we are only willing to learn. Faith was noble in the truest sense of the word. She lived with dignity and grace and left me awed that such beauty of spirit exists. |
| Napoleon came from a gas chamber shelter. He had been in quarantine for attacking his "buyer" as she left the shelter with him. Napoleon was just 10 weeks old . He was released to The Poodle Preserve (and transported by Karen Chase). Napoleon learned that he was not King of the Canine World here, and developed into a fabulous Jack Russell. He was adopted into a Denver home, and has a Basset Hound for his best friend. |
| Shadow (left photo) was an over-sized Pomeranian mix (think "29 lb ottoman") who was living out her days in a Rock Springs, Wyoming "no-kill" shelter with her best friend, Peaches (on right). They were always overlooked for younger, more colorful dogs. They came to The Poodle Preserve to live in Peaches has since passed away from cancer, but Shadow brightens the life of a woman on dialysis, and gives her a reason to get up in the morning. Older dog are such a joy to be around. They are well-mannered, not destructive, and mellow. Many people don't adopt older dogs because "It would hurt too much to lose them so soon." The sad fact is that if not adopted from most shelters, these dogs will lose their lives very quickly. Should they die in a few days because someone doesn't want the pain of losing them in a few years? We have to get past thinking that it is "all about us". Does grief hurt? Absolutely, but it isn't nearly as sad as that dog losing their life, having never known love, in a shelter. Our inconvenience and emotional pain cannot compare with the tragedy of a lost life. |
| Sammie came from the Ignacio Reservation. He was found upside down in a ditch stuck to the ice. His cries for help drew the attention of an animal control officer, who saved him. Sammie was completely blind and covered in mats. He was cleaned up by Clare Wingfield, the head of the Reservation's animal control, then released to The Poodle Preserve. There are many wonderful people involved in rescue, and it takes the combined effort of all of them to help these dogs. Countless unsung heroes who spend every free moment transporting (at their expense), grooming, training, and fostering dogs in need. Volunteers are as special as the dogs and cats they help save! |
| Bishop as a sweet, friendly puppy at the shelter. |
